Urban Edge & Jumpstart

Families First, Jumpstart, and Urban Edge have formed a strong partnership in order to address pressing family and community needs.

Our collaborative two-generation approach was created to promote the health and success of local families through parenting education, school readiness, community connections, and affordable housing.

“A two-generation approach helps both generations make progress together and gets us closer to fulfilling all parents’ wishes that their children will do better than them.” – Ascend at the Aspen Institute

When residents gathered to determine what topics Urban Edge’s Community Engagement Team should address, their answer was resounding: Help parents prepare their children for school and build connections with other parents.

In response, Families First and Jumpstart joined forces to bring parenting and early literacy programming to these families.

Families First’s Power of Parenting program is proven to help parents expand their knowledge of parenting and child development as well as social connections with other parents.

Equipped with new parenting strategies, support systems, and stress-management techniques, parents can enjoy their time with their children more. And the strong parent-child relationships that they have built will become the foundation for their children’s success in school and life.

While parents participate in the Power of Parenting, their children are nearby, engaging in Jumpstart’s early literacy program. Jumpstart’s curriculum is supported by research on developmentally appropriate practice, language and literacy development, and social-emotional development for young children.

The mission of this collaboration is to strengthen whole families by building nurturing parent-child relationships, increasing social connections among parents, and supporting the literacy and social-emotional competence of their children.

One mother, Mirella, says “I think the changes I see in my girls are because of both Families First and what I’m doing differently, and Jumpstart. It’s given them their time and given me time to learn new skills for them. Both work great together.”

In the coming year, Families First and Jumpstart are excited to expand their partnership, offering two-generation programming in more neighborhoods across Boston.